Where Art Meets Enterprise

Growing up just east of Los Angeles in Southern California, Ryan Weigand developed an early appreciation for creativity, technology, and hands-on making. He began experimenting with 3D printing in middle school and, shortly after, started a digital art program in high school, where he solidified his love of the arts and the creative yet technical outlet it offered.

When his family prepared to relocate after his high school graduation, Weigand began looking for a college that would offer both academic flexibility and a strong sense of community. His search led him across the country to the University of Richmond. “I wanted a smaller East Coast school that emphasized a liberal arts education,” he recalls. “Once I toured Richmond, the welcoming environment and the strength of the business school really stood out.”

At Richmond, he decided to major in business with a concentration in marketing and economics. While marketing appealed to his creative instincts, economics sparked an unexpected interest in technical problem-solving. “Economics gave me a new way to think about large-scale decisions,” he explained. “It helped me understand how things fit together, which actually helps with design, too.”

Even with this new interest in business, Weigand couldn’t let go of his artistic side. He began taking classes in Richmond’s Visual and Media Arts Practice, exploring painting, printmaking, sculpture, and digital media. His creative drive led him back to the kind of hands-on making he’d loved growing up—and into a new hobby: woodworking.

His father had been a hobbyist woodworker, crafting furniture and working with different materials. Inspired, Ryan started experimenting with his own projects, specifically, decorative knife handles. “It began as something I could do during school breaks,” he says. “Over time, it became a way to combine my business background, design interests, and love for working with my hands.”

Weigand expanded his skills and began designing and crafting keepsake boxes, working with both exotic and native woods—purpleheart, Patagonian rosewood, walnut, and cherry among them. Using CAD software like Fusion 360, he designs each piece digitally before sourcing parts from overseas suppliers and combining them by hand.

“I wanted something that felt luxury-level but still handmade,” he says. “It’s been a long process of figuring out the right suppliers and methods, but I love the challenge. My margins are small—it’s more about satisfaction and seeing my skills come together.”

He credits his business coursework for helping him approach the venture strategically—analyzing costs, researching suppliers, and refining production processes. “It’s been a long learning process,” he notes. “I’ve made significant design changes to balance quality and cost, including sourcing certain laser-cut elements locally. It’s rewarding to see how my business education directly supports something I love doing.” 

Weigand’s creative curiosity doesn’t stop at woodworking. Now a junior, he has continued painting since freshman year and will be taking an advanced painting course next semester under the guidance of Professor Erling Sjovold, who has helped him refine his style and artistic voice. “Painting gives me a mental reset,” he says. “It’s very different from woodworking, but both are about precision and creativity.”

Now that his family is based in Kentucky, Ryan continues to balance his academic, artistic, and entrepreneurial interests while planning for his future. He envisions a career that combines marketing, consulting, and product development—and perhaps, one day, a return to his early interest in architecture.

“Everything I’ve pursued—business, art, woodworking—intersects in some way,” he reflects. “Each one challenges me to think creatively and solve problems differently. That balance is what I enjoy most.”

You can see more of Weigand's work on his Etsy shop.